News and events
February 13, 2023
Character Trait of the Month
Our NEW Character Strong trait for February is HONESTY. Check out what each grade level is working on!
A Message from the Principal
Hello Hoover Families,
We are looking forward to another great week!
Here's a peek at this week's events:
- ACCESS Testing for Multilingual Learners
- February 16, 21, 23 - Conferences (4:30-8:30)
- February 20 - NO SCHOOL - PRESIDENT’S DAY
- February 21 - NO SCHOOL - STAFF PD DAY
Phones/iPads/Tablets/Etc:
- IF students are bringing their phones to school, it needs to remain in their backpacks/lockers during the school day. If a student needs to contact their parents/guardians, a school phone will be used. The same goes for parents/guardians contacting students - please call the main office or your child's teacher.
- Personal iPads/Tablets/Devices should be kept at home.
- It is a violation of student data privacy if phones/iPads/Tablets/Devices are used to take pictures or record videos of other students during the school day and on buses/school transportation.
- Thank you for your support!
Pokemon Cards/Toys/Fidgets/Etc:
- We are asking for your help with reminding students to keep at home, their Pokemon (or any trading cards), toys, fidgets, and anything else that may get lost and/or become a distraction to themselves or others.
Have a great week!
Best,
Mrs. Strusz
Parent Drop-Off/Pick-Up Reminders:
- Stay in your car and keep pulling forward. Students will walk to your car with the guidance of staff.
- Have students exit/enter your vehicles on the passenger/sidewalk side to avoid walking in the parking lot. I know this part is not easy due to many factors (other children in the car/carseats, etc), but this is very important for safety reasons.
- Please park first if you want to walk your student to/from the main door. Do not exit your car while in the drop-off/pick-up line. Do not have your student cross traffic to walk to you in the parking lot.
- When exiting the parking lot during arrival/dismissal times, please ONLY TURN RIGHT. This is to keep the traffic flow moving smoothly and to keep staff directing traffic safely.
- THANK YOU for your help with this process to keep our students and staff safe!
Parent-Teacher Conferences are Coming Up
Conferences are scheduled for February 16th, 21st, and 23rd from 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.
To schedule your preferred time for a parent-teacher conference:
- Go to www.Myconferencetime.com/Hoover
- Click on the name of your child’s teacher (if you need multiple conferences, click on the link “Register for Multiple Time Slots”)
- Select the desired date/time for your conference by clicking ‘Sign Up’
- Use the drop down to choose either YES (for in person) or NO (for virtual). If you choose a virtual conference, you will receive an email with a link to join that virtual conference.
- Click ‘’Sign Up’
Thank You to the Coon Rapids Lions Club!
Last week, we celebrated "I Love to Read Month" with a spirit week. We partnered with the Coon Rapids Lions Club, who graciously donated a book to every student at Hoover to take home and enjoy. Our students made Thank You cards for this amazing community group.
February is Black History Month
FREE Dental Sealant Opportunity at Hoover
This is available for students in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. The deadline to register is February 28th.
We are partnering with Community Dental Care to provide Dental Sealants (if needed) and Dental Screenings at Hoover at no cost to families. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, dental sealants are the most effective and painless way to prevent and stop cavities in children. Community Dental Care is sending their team of professionals to our school on April 19th, 20th, and 21st to apply dental sealants for students who wish to participate.
You may have noticed that your 1st, 2nd and/or 3rd grader brought home a consent form titled Community Dental Care's School Based Sealant Program on Monday, January 30th. Please complete this form as soon as possible. The deadline for this consent is February 28th, 2023. If you want your child to receive the dental sealants, please fill out the form completely and return it with your students. If you do not want your child to participate, please check no. Please turn in the consent form either way.
No payment is required for participating families, Minnesota Health Care Programs and other insurance plans will be billed as appropriate for preventative services. Any remaining costs after insurance will be covered by the program. We are very excited for this opportunity to protect our students from preventable dental disease and tooth decay. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Michelle Erickson, LSN
Kids Heart Challenge Adventure - We are in Week 3!
This year, our students will soar to new heights with our Heart Hero Dragons! They will take our students on an AMAZING adventure around the globe to learn about heart and brain health, meet kids with special hearts, and raise funds for the health of all hearts. Our students will feel good by doing good, knowing they made a difference for kids just like them!
Join us and the KHC Heart Heroes by clicking on the link below:
http://www2.heart.org/goto/hoovercoonrapids
Please refer to this ELECTRONIC ENVELOPE to learn more about our heart heroes, how to register, and Finn’s life-saving mission.
We have some BONUS incentives for our students this year:
- 75 Students to Register and Take the Challenge – Mr. White will be Silly Stringed!
- 100 Students to Register and Take the Challenge – Mr. Kelley will be Silly Stringed!
- 125 Students to Register and Take the Challenge – Mrs. Strusz will be Silly Stringed!
- When 50% of your student’s class registers:
- The classroom teacher will earn a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
- If 3 or more students:
- Complete Finn’s mission – the classroom teacher will earn another $25.
- Complete Finn's Mission: Receive “Finn’s Lifesaver Award,” and student will be highlighted on the banner, and recognized in the Hoover Howl. Their name will also go into a drawing to Silly String Mr. White, Mr. Kelley, or Mrs. Strusz.
Student Incentives:
- Every $50 Raised: Receive a Mystery Gift.
- Raise $150: Received the Collector Heart Hero “Frankie."
- Top Fundraising Class: Naming Rights to the Gym and displayed on banner.
Thank you for being part of the Kids Heart Challenge, supporting our school and the
American Heart Association. Together, we are lighting the torch of hope and making a difference.
Ms. Spark, Kirsten.Spark@ahschools.us
Mr. White, Andrew.White@ahschools.us
Parent Educator, VSC, and PTO Updates
Volunteer Service Coordinator, Nicole Kunza - February Hoover VSC Newsletter
PTO - Hoover PTO would love to increase participation! Please click here for more information on how you can participate! The next PTO meeting is Tuesday, March 7th from 6:30-7:30 at Hoover in the Explorations Classroom. All are welcome! Childcare is provided. If you would like to attend virtually - that is an option too!
Health Office Updates
COVID-19 test kits are available for students at no cost while supplies last. If you would like test kits sent home with your student(s), please fill out a form, and the kit(s) will be sent home. You can request one kit per child in your household. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Erickson at michelle.erickson@ahschools.us.
If you or your child are ill and would like to pick up a test, you can come to the main door and let staff know you are here to pick up COVID-19 test kits.
Winter Weather Updates
Please ensure students have dressed appropriately for the weather - jackets, snow pants, hats, gloves/mittens, and proper shoes/boots. Students will be going out for recess. The guideline for keeping children inside for recess will be zero degrees or 10 degrees below zero wind chill. Accommodations for children with special medical needs can be made with the Health Services office; written documentation from a doctor will be required.
The safety of all students is the priority when determining if schools should stay open in extreme winter weather. The decision to close school is serious, affecting many working families who would have to take a day off work or find daycare on short notice. Read more about where to get information on school closings due to weather and how cold it must be for the school to close.
Transportation Updates
As a reminder for our families with students riding buses, you can find information about the district's transportation services at https://www.ahschools.us/transportation and how to download the FirstView Transportation App to get real-time bus updates. Remember that the app might not be as accurate/updated when there are substitute bus drivers.
Upcoming Events
- February 16, 21, 23 - Conferences
- February 20 - NO SCHOOL - PRESIDENT’S DAY
- February 21 - NO SCHOOL - STAFF PD DAY
- March 10 - NO SCHOOL - STAFF PLANNING DAY
- March 13-17 - NO SCHOOL - SPRING BREAK
- March 20 - NO SCHOOL - STAFF PD DAY
- April 4, 5, 17-20 - MTAS Testing
- April 7 - NO SCHOOL - STAFF PD DAY
- April 18-19 - Reading MCA Testing
- April 19-21 - Dental Sealants Program Onsite
- April 20-21 - Reading MCA Testing Make-ups
- April 25-26 - Math MCA Testing
- April 27-28 - Math MCA Testing Make-ups
- May 2-3 - Science MCA Testing
- May 4-5 - Science MCA Testing Make-ups
- May 12 - Hoover School Carnival
Support Hoover with Box Tops 4 Education
Another option is to go to https://www.boxtops4education.com/ to learn more about downloading the app to scan receipts for box tops for Hoover Elementary.
This e-newsletter is published by Hoover Elementary School. Questions, comments or concerns about the school e-newsletter? Contact us.